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Modern Examples of Evolution
Modern Examples of Evolution
Modern Examples of Evolution
Take out a blank sheet of paper. Label it, Page 611: Modern Examples of Evolution
Modern Examples of Evolution
All of the diversity in today’s natural world has come about through
evolution from a common ancestor.
Modern Examples of Evolution
One common misconception about Evolution is that, “It’s only a theory.
Scientists have never observed it happening.”
This could not be more wrong.
Modern Examples of Evolution
1. The Peppered Moth
2. Human Skin
3. Drug-Resistant Bacteria
The Peppered Moth
The 1700s
The 1700s The 1850s
The peppered moth naturally comes in
two colors: white and black. Originally,
the population was 90% white.
On Page 611, summarize what you learned about how the peppered moth evolved before/after the Industrial Revolution.
Human Skin
Human skin tone varies naturally.
The good and bad about having light skin?
Good Bad
easier to sun-burn
better at capturing vitamin-D
The good and bad about having dark skin?
Good Bad
worse at capturing vitamin-D
harder to sun-burn
Winter
Summer
Winter
Summer
In an environment with a lot of sunlight _____________ people have an advantage. dark-skinned
In an environment without much sunlight _____________ people have an advantage. light-skinned
On Page 611, summarize what you learned about how human skin tone has evolved.
Drug-Resistant Bacteria
In the 1800s, the three leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia (caused by bacteria)
2. Tuberculosis (caused by bacteria)
3. Diarrhea (caused by bacteria)
But in 1928, a man named Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin: a drug that
could kill bacterial infections.
Within 10 years, deaths from tuberculosis were reduced by 75%.
But, today penicillin is an almost useless drug.
Why?
8 3
5
3
5
8
8 8
8 8
8
Over time, bacteria have evolved to resist the drug penicillin. Luckily new
drugs have been invented, like…
• Erithromicin • Zithromax • Tetracycline
“It used to be that physicians could select almost any antibiotic to treat a patient. But that Golden Age of
antibiotic use is over. The germs are winning.”
- Richard Glew, M.D.
On Page 611, summarize what you learned about how bacteria have evolved to resist antibiotics.
